Owner`s manual

focus and searing top end of this classic 30 year-old circuit. It’s funny to think of high gain sounds as Vintage (at least for us), but as
surely as the bands that used them to define their sound in the ‘80s, along with those Artists still doing so today, the C+ is a recording
dream and a Road Dog... a surviving, thriving piece of Rock History. It’s urgent attack and tight midrange focus provides the perfect
canvas to create, especially huge Rock and Metal sounds, with another iconic MARK feature... the on-board Boogie Five-Band Graphic
EQ. The II-C+ Mode responds very well to the Graphic EQ and the ever-popular extreme settings of the 80Hz and 240Hz Sliders. The
MK IIC+ is more adept at keeping things tight, tuned and chunking due to its stripped, mid-focused nature. The 750Hz Slider is the
perfect tool with which to apply the precise amount of inherent midrange attack in this Mode and bring the sound forward (bumped) or
push it back (scooped) in your musical landscape. Many Heavy Rock aficionados find the MK IIC+ Mode with the EQ employed their
go-to sound for aggressive high gain rhythm work. For the rest it provides an articulate, singing high gain voice with tons of mid-focus
clarity from which to craft your signature Lead voice.
The middle MK IV Mode is another exact recreation, this time of the MARK IV’s “Lead” Channel and it appears on both the 6L6 MARK
FIVE’S Channel 3 roster and here on the MARK FIVE: 25. This MARK Lead Mode is fatter and creamier than its mid-accentuated
brother, offering a warmer voice that’s great for both single note soloing and high gain chording. It can provide more girth and sonic
width and can round things out or fill them in. It’s nicely juxtaposed to the pointed, more forward voice of the IIC+ and is supremely
balanced and full bodied. Because of this more filled-out footprint you may want to use less extreme settings on the Graphic EQ.
Super-scooped mids on the 750Hz and/or radically boosted low end on the 80 and 240Hz Sliders may create sounds that are not as
cohesive or turn “mushy” and slow, especially at higher GAIN (and/or MASTER settings). Played with or without the Five Band EQ,
the MK IV Mode is a great all around choice for so many styles, low or high gain, and would be a great “if I could only have one” Lead
Mode. Its warmth, balance and easy to play feel are the sonic anchor for Channel 3 in the big FIVE and even more of one here in the
tighter, brighter EL84 powered MARK FIVE: 25.
The lower XTREME Mode is also a faithful duplication and taken directly from the 6L6 MARK FIVE. While its name is shorter here to
fit this tiny Panel (no “E”), it definitely lives up to its name and delivers the radical dose of high gain infused with extra harmonics and
even more urgent attack than its cousin upstairs, the IIC+ Mode. This hyper reactive voice jumps at the first hint of pick attack and
roars with aggression. It’s further antagonized by the similar response of the EL84 power tubes here in the FIVE: 25 with their fast
attack, higher mid frequency and relative lack of sub-low bottom end. XTREME shreds, grinds and thrashes like the angry teen it is
circuit-wise and whatever it lacks in nuance, it makes up for in brash attitude. It’s very fast, forward and furious and should be used
in musical environments where you don’t care if you offend and/or dominate... and in fact, this may even be the goal.
5-BAND GRAPHIC EQ
The on-board 5-Band Graphic EQ has been an iconic trademark of MARK Series Boogies since it first
appeared on the MARK I back in 1970. The shaping power of this feature can’t be denied, especially when combined with the MARK
II and IV’s tight, mid-focused gain sound. In the ‘80s, the classic “V” setting of the Graphic EQ on MARK II and III models became an
instant Classic. With bigger chunking low end, scooped mids for width and a chirping harmonic top, these MARK amps were nice
alternatives to the Brit-mods of the day. They quickly took their place as the other sound in Heavy Rock, etching the on-board Boogie
Graphic a nice little niche in Rock history.
While the MARK FIVE: 25 Tone Controls are accurate and effective over a wide range, they come earlier in the preamp’s signal path
and can only achieve so much shaping before they produce possible imbalances in certain Modes. One example might be the BASS
Control in Channel 2 where, in the MARK II-C+ and MARK IV Modes, too much bass dialed up early in the preamp will cause the
sound to be tubby and unfocused.
The Graphic EQ comes at the very end of the signal chain so you can shape the final sound with the only consideration being how
much of a certain frequency your speakers, cabinet—and ultimately your ears—can handle. The only consideration is that here in this
25 Watt power section, extreme settings of the two lowest Bands — 80Hz and 240Hz will use up power (wattage) quickly and overall
headroom will be affected. This is even more of a consideration in the 10 Watt Power setting. Dial with care and taste to ensure the
best performance. Subtle movements cause substantial results here, so use this powerful tool wisely and it can take your sound
almost anywhere you want to go. Just be sure to reference less altered sounds from time to time to keep a perspective, as it’s easy
to get an “EQ Hangover”.
Each Channel is fitted with a mini-toggle just to the left of the SLIDERS to select the operational status of the 5-Band Graphic EQ and
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